MOUNT FOREST – Local green thumbs gathered despite heavy rain and mud to celebrate the success of a community garden that brings people together and helps to support social causes.
Volunteers hosted “Taste of the Garden” on Aug. 19, an event to celebrate all the Mount Forest Community Garden offers.
A group of around 40 people enjoyed snacks that used fresh ingredients harvested from the garden.
“It was a lot of work to make it look the way it looks right now,” volunteer Elsa Mann told guests during a speech.
Mann belongs to the Mount Forest Family Health Team, which helped establish the garden in 2023.
“There’s a lot of people that had no idea who the other person was standing next to them when this whole thing started,” she said.
“Here we are today with these new-found friendships and connections; from the family health team perspective that is a huge success.”
Mann thanked Wellington Heights Secondary School students volunteering for high school graduation hours at the garden.
“I didn’t even know it existed before,” student Kylie Dalal told the Advertiser.
Dalal has earned more than 100 hours since April.
She said harvesting is “so calming with the birds … and collecting the food is really rewarding.”
Dalal’s responsibilities, along with other student volunteers, include weeding walkways, building signs and generally helping out when needed.
“Everyone is so kind and helpful here,” she said.
Dalal’s enjoying her time so much, she plans to keep volunteering after she earns her high school hours.
“It’s amazing the bonds that have formed here,” Down To Earth Committee chair Daphne Rappard told the Advertiser.
“When we first started the garden I had a cancer diagnosis and it just provided me a focus,” she said.
People’s positivity along with the physical activity of gardening helped, she said.
“When you’re growing things, you don’t have time to be sick.”
Since inception, the garden has grown to include 50 gardeners, each with an individual plot.
Some plots are ground level, some raised and others elevated for those with physical limitations.
Food grown in a dedicated plot is donated to Mount Forest and Arthur food banks.
Food is also grown for the Mount Forest United Church Raw Carrot franchise, which creates employment for those with disabilities and mental health illnesses.
A plaque was presented during the event honouring Cathy and Allan Sharpe, who donated land for the garden.
“The garden is thriving in so many ways nobody could have anticipated because of the creativity and imagination that have come from the efforts of the community,” volunteer Nola Marion said during the presentation.
Visit mountforestgarden.com to learn more or volunteer.
